Chromosome banding pattern in a polymorphic population of Sorex araneus from northeastern Finland

Karyotypes from 14 males of Sorex araneus from Kuusijoki, NE Finland, were investigated and found to represent chromosome race C, as defined by Fredga in 1973. The population was found to be polymorphic and show frequencies of cytological types close to a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The polymorphism was slightly more restricted than in another race C population investigated by Fredga. Q and ASG stainings were used for the first time to obtain banding patterns in the chromosomes of the genus Sorex. The banding pattern of race C is presented and proposed as a basis for comparisons between chromosomal races of Sorex araneus.